Hurricane Sandy Exacts Toll on Printers As Well

PHILADELPHIA—The latest Storm of the Century, Hurricane Sandy, unleashed a fury of destruction on the New Jersey shore and New York City, claiming the lives of roughly 100 people, leaving millions without power and, for many, leaving homes and businesses in ruins.

While it is too early to speculate on the total degree of impact suffered by the printing community, Printing Impressions was able to touch base with a number of businesses with facilities in the areas hardest hit by the storm. More information on their statuses will be provided as it becomes available.

“I’ve talked to about a half-dozen companies affected,” said Tim Freeman, president of Printing Industries Alliance (PIA), the affiliate which serves the New York/North Jersey region, hit hardest by Sandy. “The ones were not hearing from have been hit bad. A couple of companies lost power, one had its roof blown off and has water damage.”

PIA sent out a letter to membership on Friday, but with mail delivery an uncertainty in the heaviest impacted regions, it has been included here as a courtesy. The affiliate is offering services from placing work to dealing with insurance companies, getting assistance from the federal government. Help is being offered to PIA members and non-members alike.

“We’ve gotten responses from printers around the country, offering help,” Freeman notes. “We’ll do what we can.”

Earthcolor, based in Parsippany, NJ, is operating with minimal difficulty. As of Thursday, the Cedar Graphics’ New York location and two of EarthThebault’s three New Jersey facilities are open. The Ronkonkoma, Parsippany (Pomeroy) and Moonachie locations all have power and are in operation. The Parsippany (Walsh) facility is without power.

“If you currently have work within this location, rest assured that EarthColor has instituted its disaster recovery plan and you will be notified by our team regarding your project and timelines,” the company said on its Website.